Introduction
In "Evil Geniuses," Kurt Andersen takes readers on a journey through the transformation of American society and economics over the past half-century. The book explores how a small group of wealthy elites and right-wing ideologues orchestrated a dramatic shift in American politics and culture, leading to increased inequality and a rollback of progressive policies. Andersen argues that this change was not accidental but rather a deliberate and calculated effort to reshape the country according to a conservative, pro-business agenda.
The author paints a picture of an America that has become stuck in time, both culturally and economically. He suggests that the country has lost its forward-looking spirit and instead become obsessed with nostalgia, allowing powerful interests to take advantage of this backward-looking tendency to push through radical changes in economic policy and social norms.
The Rise of Nostalgia and Cultural Stagnation
Andersen begins by noting a curious phenomenon he observed in the early 2000s: American culture seemed to have stopped evolving. He describes looking at a photograph from 1987 and realizing that the people in it looked remarkably similar to those walking the streets in 2007. This observation led him to a broader realization about the slowing pace of cultural change in America.
The author argues that since the end of the 20th century, America has become increasingly nostalgic and culturally stagnant. He points out that while the 20th century saw rapid and radical changes in fashion, music, and design from decade to decade, the pace of change has slowed dramatically since the 1980s. Aside from advancements in technology, much of American culture in the 21st century seems to be recycling or reimagining styles and ideas from the past.
This turn towards nostalgia, Andersen suggests, began as early as the 1970s. In the wake of the tumultuous 1960s, a significant portion of the American public began to long for an idealized version of the past, where everything felt more familiar and stable. This nostalgia was reflected in popular culture, with movies and TV shows like "Grease," "American Graffiti," and "Happy Days" romanticizing the 1950s and early 1960s.
The author argues that this cultural stagnation and obsession with the past is not merely a superficial trend but reflects a deeper impasse in American society. It suggests that the country has become stuck in a time warp, unable or unwilling to face the challenges of the present and future. This backward-looking tendency, Andersen warns, is particularly dangerous given the pressing issues facing the country, such as rising inequality and climate change.
The Economic Right's Comeback
Andersen then delves into how this wave of nostalgia created an opening for conservative economic ideas to make a comeback. He explains that after the New Deal era, which began in the 1930s under President Franklin D. Roosevelt, the United States had become a largely center-left country in terms of economic policy. The New Deal introduced programs that provided secure employment, good pensions, and relief for the poor and unemployed. This trend continued through the 1960s with President Lyndon B. Johnson's Great Society programs.
However, as the cultural upheavals of the 1960s unfolded, right-wing elites saw an opportunity to appeal to Americans who were uncomfortable with rapid social change. The author points to Barry Goldwater's 1964 presidential campaign as an early example of this strategy. Although Goldwater lost the election, his campaign set a precedent by contrasting images of small-town American life with scenes of social change and unrest, appealing to people's desire for an idealized past.
This strategy reached its pinnacle with Ronald Reagan's presidential campaign in 1980. Reagan, a former Hollywood star, embodied an idealized vision of America's past. Rather than focusing on his right-wing economic policies, which were still unpopular with most Americans, Reagan's campaign emphasized nostalgia and a return to traditional values. This approach allowed him to win the presidency while concealing his true economic agenda.
Andersen argues that this victory for Reagan marked the beginning of a new era in American politics, one in which the economic policies favored by wealthy elites could be implemented under the guise of returning to traditional American values.
Key Figures in the Economic Right's Resurgence
The author identifies two key figures who were instrumental in the resurgence of right-wing economic ideas in the 1970s: Milton Friedman and Lewis Powell.
Milton Friedman, an economics professor at the University of Chicago, published an influential essay in 1970 titled "The Social Responsibility of Business Is to Increase Its Profits." This piece argued that businesses should focus solely on maximizing profits, without regard for social responsibilities. Andersen explains that this essay provided intellectual justification for a more ruthless form of capitalism and influenced corporate behavior for decades to come.
Lewis Powell, a prominent lawyer from Virginia, submitted a confidential memorandum to the U.S. Chamber of Commerce in 1971. This document, known as the Powell Memorandum, outlined a strategy for big business to combat what Powell saw as anti-capitalist sentiment in American society. He proposed a comprehensive campaign to influence academia, media, politics, and the legal system in favor of business interests. This plan included funding think tanks, academics, and sympathetic journalists to promote right-wing economic ideology.
Andersen argues that these two figures laid the groundwork for the massive lobbying and influence campaigns that would come to dominate American politics in the following decades. Their ideas provided both the intellectual framework and the strategic blueprint for the economic right's takeover of American politics and culture.
The Right's Adoption of Left-Wing Tactics
In a surprising twist, Andersen describes how the economic right adopted some of the strategies and rhetoric of their left-wing opponents to gain power. Rather than presenting themselves as stodgy conservatives, the new right tapped into the spirit of the times in several ways:
Individualism: The right co-opted the 1960s emphasis on individual freedom and self-expression. They encouraged people to embrace their desire for wealth and profit without feeling guilty, framing it as a form of personal liberation.
Mistrust of government: Following scandals like Watergate and the Vietnam War, public trust in government was low. The right capitalized on this sentiment, promoting the idea that government itself was the problem and that deregulation was the solution.
Victimhood narratives: In a perverse echo of civil rights rhetoric, some right-wing figures began to paint wealthy businessmen as victims of an oppressive system, calling them "the forgotten men" of America.
These tactics, Andersen argues, helped the libertarian right gain traction and ultimately achieve significant victories in the 1980s. By adopting the language and strategies of their opponents, they were able to make their ideas seem more palatable and even revolutionary.
Liberal Complacency
Andersen points out that the success of the American right owes a great deal to the complacency of liberals in the post-1960s era. After the achievements of the New Deal and the civil rights movement, many liberals believed they had won most of the important political arguments. This led to a dangerous complacency that allowed conservative ideas to gain ground.
The author identifies several ways in which this complacency manifested:
Embracing nostalgia: Even liberals began to adopt past fashions and customs, albeit often with a sense of irony. This inadvertently helped normalize the backward-looking tendencies that the right was exploiting.
Disenchantment with labor unions: Some liberals became critical of unions, seeing them as bastions of old-fashioned bigotry. This weakened a key bulwark against corporate power.
Giving platform to right-wing voices: In an attempt to appear broad-minded, liberal institutions like The New York Times and Harvard University gave prominent positions to right-wing figures, helping to mainstream their ideas.
Awarding prestige to right-wing economists: The Nobel Prize in Economics was awarded to right-wing economists like Milton Friedman, further legitimizing their ideas.
This complacency, Andersen argues, meant that when Ronald Reagan was elected president, there was little organized resistance to his most radical economic reforms.
The Lasting Impact of 1980s Economic Policies
Andersen contends that the political and economic changes set in motion by the right in the 1980s continue to shape American society today. He argues that in many ways, we are still living in the 1980s in terms of economic policy and cultural attitudes towards wealth and business.
The author identifies several key changes that occurred during this period:
Normalization of greed: The ideas of economists like Milton Friedman became mainstream, leading to a cultural shift where greed and the pursuit of profit were openly celebrated.
Regulatory neglect: The Reagan administration began to quietly "forget" to update or enforce various codes and regulations, particularly those related to labor laws and executive compensation.
Judiciary changes: The right made a concerted effort to change the judiciary, creating organizations like the Federalist Society to promote conservative legal views and groom suitable Supreme Court nominees.
Tax law modifications: Small changes to tax laws were made that benefited the wealthy and corporations while reducing protections for everyone else.
These changes, while often seeming minor or technical at the time, had enormous cumulative effects. They shifted the balance of power in American society towards the wealthy and big business, while eroding rights and protections for ordinary citizens.
The Rise of Financialization
One of the most significant outcomes of the economic right's victories in the 1980s, according to Andersen, was the financialization of the American economy. This refers to the increasing importance of financial markets, institutions, and motives in the operation of the economy.
The author describes several aspects of this financialization:
Embrace of risk: Cuts to capital gains taxes encouraged more people to invest in the stock market, leading to a boom in share prices and a culture of risk-taking.
Increased consumer debt: Deregulation made it easier for working-class Americans to borrow on credit cards and take out risky loans, leading to widespread indebtedness.
Complex financial instruments: The financial sector began creating increasingly complex and risky financial products, such as derivatives, that were detached from actual businesses or commodities.
Focus on shareholder value: Businesses became obsessed with creating short-term profits for shareholders, often at the expense of long-term stability and growth.
Andersen argues that this financialization transformed America from a society focused on manufacturing and innovation into one obsessed with financial speculation. This shift benefited a small elite while making life more precarious for ordinary Americans.
The Need for Reform
In the final sections of the book, Andersen paints a stark picture of America's potential futures. He argues that if current trends continue, with more power and wealth concentrated in the hands of corporations and elites, the coming decades could be dystopian for many Americans. However, he also presents a more optimistic alternative.
The author suggests that technological advancements, particularly in automation, could potentially free people from repetitive, dreary jobs. However, this automation revolution also threatens to displace many workers. To address this, Andersen proposes the idea of a universal basic income (UBI) – a regular payment to all citizens to cover basic living costs.
He points to the Alaskan oil dividend as a real-world example of a similar system, noting its positive effects on poverty reduction, nutrition, and even workforce participation. Andersen argues that such a system could provide a safety net for Americans as the economy continues to evolve.
The author concludes by presenting America with two choices: continue down the path set by the economic right, leading to greater inequality and hardship, or embrace dramatic reforms that could create a more equitable and forward-looking society. He urges America to reclaim its innovative, future-oriented spirit and face the challenges of the 21st century head-on.
Final Thoughts
"Evil Geniuses" presents a comprehensive and thought-provoking analysis of how America's economic and cultural landscape has been shaped over the past half-century. Andersen's argument that a small group of wealthy elites and ideologues orchestrated a dramatic shift in American society is compelling and well-supported by historical evidence.
The book's strength lies in its ability to connect seemingly disparate trends – from cultural nostalgia to economic policy – into a coherent narrative of how America has changed. Andersen's writing style is engaging and accessible, making complex economic and political concepts understandable to a general audience.
However, some readers might find the book's perspective overly partisan or its conclusions too pessimistic. While Andersen presents a strong case for his view of recent American history, there's room for debate about the intentionality and coordination of the changes he describes.
Regardless of one's political leanings, "Evil Geniuses" offers valuable insights into the forces that have shaped modern America. It serves as a wake-up call, urging readers to consider the long-term consequences of economic policies and cultural shifts. The book challenges us to think critically about the direction of our society and to consider what kind of future we want to create.
In the end, Andersen's work is not just a history lesson or a critique of the status quo – it's a call to action. He challenges Americans to reclaim their agency in shaping their country's future, to resist the pull of nostalgia, and to work towards a more equitable and forward-looking society. Whether one agrees with all of Andersen's conclusions or not, "Evil Geniuses" provides a thought-provoking framework for understanding America's recent past and contemplating its possible futures.